Senate President Pro-tempore Juan M. Flavier traces his
humble beginnings to the slums of Tondo and the mining
communities of Cordillera. Born to a poor family, this
barrio doctor, former Secretary of Health and now a Senator
on his 2nd term, worked his way to school until he earned
his degree in Medicine at the University of the Philippines
in 1960.

Instead of grabbing
opportunities for a lucrative medical practice, he packed
his medical satchel and went to serve the barrio people of
Nueva Ecija and Cavite. To better serve the barrios, he
proceeded to take up a postgraduate course and earned his
Masters in Public Health at the prestigious Johns Hopkins
University. He then became president of the Philippine Rural
Reconstruction Movement and the International Institute for
Rural Reconstruction, two organizations dedicated to serving
the common tao through education, training and empowerment.

In 1992, he was chosen by
President Ramos to become Secretary of the Department of
Health. Bringing with him his rich experience in rural work,
he introduced innovative approaches to health care, such as
Oplan Alis Disease, a massive immunization campaign which
later resulted to the World Health Organization declaration
of the Philippines as Polio-free, the Sangkap Pinoy, a
nationwide campaign against micronutrient malnutrition, the
anti-AIDS health information campaign and other health
programs aimed at bringing health closer to the people. He
successfully transformed the Department of Health into a
dynamic office, making it the number one department in the
Ramos administration.

Because of his outstanding
performance in the Cabinet, he was asked to join the
administration's ticket in the 1995 elections. Among the 12
winning candidates, he placed fifth. As a neophyte senator
of the 10th Congress, he endeavored to concentrate on his
job as a legislator and thus earned the distinction of
having attended the most number of committee hearings; and
having incurred no absences from the Senate sessions. Some
of the landmark legislations he authored and sponsored are
the Traditional Medicine Law, the Poverty Alleviation Law,
Clean Air Act and the Indigenous People's Rights Act.

It was due to his outstanding
performance that he was reelected as senator in the 2001
elections, placing 2nd among the 12 winning candidates. On
the first day of the 12th Congress, he immediately went to
work and filed Senate Bills 1-166. He continues to be an
excellent advocate of health, environment and development
issues, having authored and sponsored the RA 9160 -
Anti-money Laundering Act of 2001, RA 9177 - Declaring Eidul
Fitr as a National Holiday, RA 9178 - Barangay
Micro-Business Enterprise, RA 9163 - National Service
Training Program for Tertiary Students of 2002, RA 9165 -
Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002, RA 9168 - Plant Variety
Protection Act, RA 9173 - Philippine Nursing Act of 2002 and
the recently enacted RA 9211- The Tobacco Regulation Act.

Having served as Chairman of the
Senate Committee on Health and Demography during previous
Congresses Dr. Flavier continues to champion the Health
Agenda in the Senate by pushing for reforms in health care
delivery, health care regulation, and health care financing.
Indeed, re-elected Senator Juan Flavier, has been recognized
as one of the most industrious legislators of the 10th, 11th
and 12th Congress.